Mineral classifier machine



April. 18, 1939. c. w. LIVINGSTON MINERAL CLASSIFIER MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 18, 1939. c. w. LIVINGSTON MINERAL CLASSIFIER MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1938 m mm MM w L"...

ATTORNEYS April 18, 1939. c. w. LIVINGSTON MINERAL CLASSIFIER MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR all-J liicul.

ya i

ATTORNEYS April 1939- c. w. LIVINGSTON 2,155,319

MINERAL CLAS S IFIER MACHINE mjf wr ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The invention relates to a classifier and more especially to a mineral sorting or classifying apparatus'for the mining industry.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein the deflection of particles or solid. materials of various settling velocities when dropping the same into a horizontal current of liquid enables through the rise in such current the lifting of particles accordingly to their settling velocity, viscosity, size and shape and in this manner classifying of such material takes place for the assortment thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein separation of solids from liquids or separation between particles within the liquids having different settling velocity will be assured through the arrangement of a variable velocity horizontal current which is continuously active, non-pulsating and devoid of short circuiting thus in this manner the materials will be classified or separated for their assortment.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein a part of the material stream is permitted to return behind an impeller and in this manner forming a complete circuit for classifying purposes and the operation being continuous, the remaining part of the stream being passed into overflow areas for further classification. I A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this'character, which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, novel in its make-up, mechanical in the working thereof, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View partly broken away of the apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an end elevation.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through one of the stuffing boxes employed in the machine.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the apparatus comprises a tank l0 provided with a sloping bottom H permanently closed and reinforced by longitudinal and transverse sills l2 and 13, respectively, these being exteriorly of the tank while the top of such tank is open and the major longitudinal extent of this open top lays in a horizontal plane as at M while the remaining minor portion of said open top is elevated and inclined longitudinally toward the horizontal portion H! with the bottom ll coextensive with this remaining portion [5. In this construction of the tank there is created interiorly thereof a relatively deep end and a shallow end, respectively, while the bottom I l in its inclined disposition is supported upon columns or uprights l6 and I1, respectively, which are suitably an chored to a foundation and are made fast to the said bottom I l in any suitable manner. The deep end of the tank [0 is at rest upon the foundation from which rise perpendicularly the columns or uprights l6 and I l. Disposed at opposite ends of the tank ID are suitable bearings l8 in which are journaled horizontal axles l9 disposed crosswise with respect to the open top of the tank Ill while low within the deep end of said tank is a horizontally arranged axle 20 being disposed transversely of said tank and these axles l9 and 20 arefitted with sprocket wheels 2| and 22, respectively, over which are trained the sprocket chains 23 of an endless movable conveyor having spaced flights 24 lying crosswise of the said conveyor and-serving as drags for such conveyor. The a'Xle 20 is disposed in vertical alignment with the axle l9 arranged at the deep end of the tank [0 so that the chains 23 of the conveyor will have travel in a perpendicular direction effecting a perpendicular stretch A to said conveyor while another stretch B of the said conveyor follows the incline o-r angular disposition of the bottom ll, of the said tank. The axle l9 arranged at the higher end of the tank Ill has fixed thereto a belt wheel 25 over which is trained an endless beltZfi engaged about a driving pulley 21 in association with a speed reducing mechanism (not shown) and confined within a housing 28 stationarily carried on a stand, slab or block 29 and such mechanism is connected with a power unit 30, in this instance an electric motor, which is also carried by the slab or block 29. Thus the unit 30 operates the conveyor with the flights 24 thereon for a purpose presently described.

Within the tank 10 are vertically arranged spaced transversely disposed partitions 31, these at the upper ends are inset from the open top of the tank while the lower ends of said partitions are removed from the stretch B of the flight conveyor and divide the deep end of the tank into sorting zones 32 and 33 and a Washing and sorting column 34, respectively, the said column being intermediate of the zones 32 and 33. Within the column 34 next to one side of the tank I0 is a laterally inwardly inclined deflector plate 34 which is disposed above spaced transversely arranged inverted substantially V-shaped angular irons 36, thesebeing fixedly supported at opposite sides of the tank 18 and are preferably elevated with respect to the stretch B of the flight conveyor. Built in the side of the tank I 0 directly opposite the deflector plate 35 is a funnel 31 having a flared'mouth 38 next to the plate ,35, being open at opposite ends and tapers reversely to the mouth 38 while within the smaller end of this funnel 31 is a bladed propeller 39, its driving shaft 40 is carried through a liquid stuffing box 4| to without the tank I0 where it has fitted thereto a belt pulley 42 over which is trained an endless belt '43 about a driving pulley 44 in association with speed reducing mechanism (not shown) and contained within a housing 45, the said mechanism being operatively connected with a power unit 46, in this instance an electric motor carried upon a stand, slab or block 41, the housing 45 being also supported by the latter. The funnel 31 within its mouth 38 has arranged therein eddy reducing screens 48. The propeller 39 when active produces a horizontal current to liquid within the tank ID at the deep end-thereof while the screens 48 are designed to reduce eddy currents and effect streamlined motion to the liquid of diluting characteristic. 7

Above the funnel 3'! and carried laterally into the tank l0 through the open top of the same is a feed launder 49 having a downwardly elbowed inner end forming a feed discharge spout 50 directing material in a downward direction crosswise of the horizontal current set up by the funnel 31 within the washing and sorting column 34 and. this unclassified material fed as stated will be subjected to a lifting activity resultant from a rising current of liquid present Within the tank It), the ability of the said rising current to lift particles or solid matter depends upon the settling velocity, mass, size and shape of the particles as well as the velocity of the rising current and the density and viscosity of the medium. Those particles whose settling velocities in a mediumof any'given density are greater than the velocity exerted by the rising current of liquid will not be lifted by the current and are settled out of the same; Conversely, those particles whose settling velocities in a medium of any given density, are less than the velocity of the rising current will be lifted by the current and in this mannersorting of the material 'takes place.

Arranged within the spout 50 in the path of 7 with respect to the zone 33 for coactivity with rising current areas denoted at a, b and 0, respec- "tively, the zone 33 being effective as a quiescent sorting zone in the operation of the apparatus. These overflow launders 52 and 53, the former being longitudinally of the tank and the latter disposed crosswise thereof, are equipped with adjustable weirs 54 for regulating under adjustment the overflow resultant from the rising currents in the areas a, b and G into the launders in the working of the machine. The launders 52 and 53 at their bottoms incline in one direction to effect a circuitous overflow leading into a discharge font 55 at the deeper end of the tank I9 and exteriorly of the latter. The font 55 has. a pulp overflow discharge 56. i

The deeper end of the tank I0 is equipped with a drain outlet 51 while the flight conveyor 24 is adapted in its travel through the flights 24 thereof to drag sand deposits upon the inclined bottom l2 of the tank l0 upwardly of said bottom and discharge such sand or the like through an outlet 58 at the elevated open top of said tank.

It is desirable that the axles l9 and 20 flt in liquid stuffing boxes 59, each having liquid stored therein through a supply conduit 69 from any suitable source of supply.

Heading the column 34 above the upper ends of the partitions 3| creating the same are bafiles 6| under which the pulp stream flows into the rising current areas 11 adjacent thereto and such pulp is there free toroverflow the weirs 54 into the launders 52 and 53 for the passage into the font 55, washing and settling activities being set up in the zones 32 and 33 and column 34, respectively, while quiet settling occurs in the zone 33.

In the working of the apparatusthe mineral material is fed through the launder 49 discharg ing at 50 into a horizontal currentof liquid impelled by the propeller 39, the flight conveyor removes the sand from the admitted material dragging it up the inclined bottom .II for the discharge of the same at 58 from the tank at the elevated end thereof while the washing and sorting column 34 within the tank changes the horizontal current of liquid to a rising current; the baffles 8| being for the purpose of preventing short circuiting of the overflow and divides the current, one portion being returned behind the propeller 39and the other portion passes into the overflow rising current areas a, b and 0, respectively, the overflow being controlled through adjustment of the weirs 54 and such overflow is conveyed to the font 55 and has discharge at 56 therefrom. In the foregoing manner the solid matter will be sorted from the liquid or the particles separated from each other within the said liquid having diiferent masses or settling velocities and in this fashion the apparatus func-- tions as a classifier for mineral material.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine of the kind described comprising f a tank open at its top and varying in depth in a longitudinal direction from one end to the other thereof, vertical walls disposed transversely of the tank, spaced from the bottom and extending only tothe liquid level for partitioning the deeper portion of said tank and dividing it into a plurality of sorting and washing zones, one of the partitions being arranged for effecting a vertical columnar sorting area, a conveyor working within the tank and having a vertical stretch within one sorting zone and an inclined stretch corresponding to the variation in depth of said tank, a feed launder having a downwardly elbowed inner end forming a discharge spout for directing material downwardly vin said sorting columnar area, a funnel carried laterally into the tank below the launder and confronting the downward feed of the elbowed inner end of said launder, a deflector within the columnar area in the path of said funnel and inclined in the direction thereof, baflies within said funnel and at the discharge side thereof, and a propeller working within the funnel for sending fluid in the direction of the baffles.

2. A machine of the kind described comprising a tank open at its top and varying in depth in a longitudinal direction from one end to the other thereof, vertical walls disposed transversely of the tank, spaced from the bottom and extending only to the liquid level for partitioning the deeper portion of said tank and dividing it into a plurality of sortingand washing zones, one of the partitions being arranged for effecting a vertical columnar sorting area, a conveyor working within the tank and having a vertical stretch within one sorting zone and an inclined stretch corresponding to the variation in depth of said tank, a feed launder having a downwardly elbowed inner end forming a discharge spout for directing material downwardly in said sorting columnar area, a funnel carried laterally into the tank below the launder and confronting the downward feed of the elbowed inner end of said launder, a deflector within the columnar area in the path of said funnel and inclined in the direction thereof, baflles within said funnel and at the discharge side thereof, a propeller working within the funnel for sending fluid in the direction of the baffles, and intercommunicating side and cross overflow launders common to and superposed with respect to one of the said zones for coactivity with rising current areas within another of said zones.

3. A machine of the kind described comprising a tank open at its top and varying in depth in a longitudinal direction from one end to the other thereof, vertical walls disposed transversely of the tank, spaced from the bottom and extending only to the liquid level for partitioning the deeper portion of said tank and dividing it into a plurality of sorting and washing zones, one of the partitions being arranged for effecting a Vertical columnar sorting area, a conveyor working within the tank and having a vertical stretch within one sorting zone and an inclined stretch corresponding to the variation in depth of said tank, a feed launder having a downwardly elbowed inner end forming a discharge spout for directing material downwardly in said sorting columnar area, a funnel .carried laterally into the tank below the launder and confronting the downward feed of the elbowed inner end of said launder, a deflector within the columnar area in the path of said funnel and inclined in the direction thereof, baffles within said funnel and at the discharge side thereof, a propeller working within the funnel for sending fluid in the direction of the baffles, intercommunicating side and cross overflowlaunders common to and superposed with respect to one of the said zones for coactivity with rising current areas within another of said zones, and adjustable weirs within the said launders.

4. A machine of the kind described comprising a tank open at its top and varying in depth in a longitudinal direction from one end to the other thereof, vertical walls disposed transversely of the tank, spaced from the bottom and extending only to the liquid level for partitioning the deeper portion of said tank and dividing it into a plurality of sorting and washing zones, one of the partitions being arranged for effecting a vertical columnar sorting area, a conveyor working within the tank and having a vertical stretch within one sorting zone and an inclined stretch corresponding to the variation in depth of said tank, a feed launder having a downwardly elbowed inner end forming a discharge spout for directing material downwardly in said sorting columnar area, a funnel carried laterally into the tank below the launder and confronting the downward feed of the elbowed inner end of said launder, a

deflector within the columnar area in the path of said funnel and inclined in the direction thereof, bailles within said funnel and at the discharge side thereof, a propeller working within the funnel for sending fluid in the direction of the baffles, intercommunicating side and cross overflow launders common to and superposed with respect to one of the said zones for coactivity with rising current areas Within another of said zones, and adjustable weirs within the said launders, the said launders at their bottoms being inclined in one direction to effect a circuitous overflow leading to a discharge at the deeper area of said tank.

5. A machine of the kind described comprising a tank open at its top and varying in depth in a longitudinal direction from one end to the other thereof, vertical walls disposed transversely of the tank, spaced from the bottom and extending only to the liquid level for partitioning the deeper portion of said tank and dividing it into a plurality of sorting and washing zones, one of the partitions being arranged for effecting a vertical columnar sorting area, a conveyor working within the tank and having a vertical stretch within one sorting zone and an inclined stretch corresponding to the variation in depth of said tank, a feed launder having a downwardly elbowed inner end forming a discharge spout for directing material downwardly in said sorting columnar area, a funnel carried laterally into the tank below the launder and confronting the downward feed of the elbowed inner end of said launder, a deflector within the columnar area in the path of said funnel and inclined in the direction thereof, baffles within said funnel and at the discharge side thereof, a propeller working within the funnel for sending fluid in the direction of the baflies, intercommunicating side and cross overflow launders common to and superposed with respect to one of the said zones for coactivity with rising current areas within another of said zones, adjustable weirs within the said launders, the said launders at their bottoms being inclined in one direction to effect a circuitous overflow leading to a discharge at the deeper area of said tank, and horizontal baffles in the path of the feed from the feed launder for splitting material into two independent streams in advance of being subjected to current blast from said funnel.

6. A machine of the kind described comprising a tank open at its top and. varying in depth in a longitudinal direction from one end to the other thereof, vertical walls disposed transversely of the tank, spaced from the bottom and extending only to the liquid level for partitioning the deeper portion of said tank and dividing it into a plurality of sorting and washing zones, one of the partitions being arranged for effecting a vertical columnar sorting area, a conveyor working within the tank and having a vertical stretch within one sorting zone and an inclined stretch'corresponding to the variation in depth of said tank, a feed launder having a downwardly elbowed inner end forming a discharge spout for directing material downwardly in said sorting columnar area, a funnel carried laterally into the tank below the launder and confronting the downward feed of the elbowed inner end of said launder, a deflector Within the columnar area in the path of said funnel and inclined in the direction thereof, bailles within said funnel and at the discharge side thereof, a propeller working within the funnel for sending fluid in the direction of thebafiles, intercommunicating side and cross overflow launders common to and superposed with respect to one of the said zones for coaetivity with rising current areas within another of said zones, adjustable weirs within the said launders, the said launders at their bottoms being inclined in. one

, direction to eiTect a circuitous overflow leading to a discharge at the deeper area of said tank, horizontal baffles in the .path of the feed from the feed launder for splitting material into two independent streams in advance of being subjected to current blast. from said funnel, and flights built with the conveyor. V

a CLIFTON W. LIVINGSTON. 

